Electrical connector



H. A. DUGLAS.

ELECTRCL CONNECTOR.

A APPLICATION man FEB. 19, 1919.

jigs m1111611 Feb. 22,1921,

UNITED STATES HARRY A. DOUGLAS, OFBRONSN, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. y

specification of Letters Patent. Patented Een 22, '1921,

Application filed February 19, 1919,. Serial No. 277,917.

vother contact carriers in circuit and is of particular service in connecting incandescent electric lamps of automobile headlights in circuit with grounded magneto generators where plugs are employed for finally establishing circuit. These plugs are provided with conductor terminals either of which is likely to be connected with a given pole of the generator. It is the main Object Of my invention to make it immaterial which terminal receives the wireextending from such generator pole, the device of my invention bringing one terminal ofthe lamp into connection with such pole irrespective of the conductor terminal which receives said wire, the other terminal of the lamp being grounded to complete its circuit.`

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawing show-ing the preferred embodiment thereof and in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation of .an Outfit embracing the preferred form of the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of all but the lamp portion of the outfit illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the structure; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different figures.

The grounded metallicy shell 1 has bayonet slots or passages 2 at one end and bayonet slots Or passages 3 at its other end. An incandescent lamp 4 has a base 5` constituting a contact carrying plug, adapted to be received in one end of the shell 1, this lamp base having bayonet pins or projections 6 receivable 1n the beyonet slots or passages at this end of the shell. The lamp base y5 has two lamp terminalv contacts 7 8 upon its inner end.` The contact carrier 9 of insulating material is preferably ixedly located within the shell 1 intermediate the ends of this shell. Two plunger contacts 10 and'll vproject from the end of the carrier 9 that faces the lamp base 5. Two

other plunger contacts 12 and 13 project from the other end of the carrier 9. These 'plunger contacts work within and engage the metallic spring barrels 14, 15 whereby each plunger contact at each end of the carrier 9 is electrically connected with the corresponding plunger contact at the other end of such carrier. The contacts 10 and 12 are pressed apart by a coiled spring 16. The contacts l1 and 13 are pressed apart by the spring 17. All of the plunger contacts are thus constituted spring contacts, the contacts 10 and 11 being engaged by their springs with the lamp terminal contacts 7 and 8 respectively. A second metallic shell 18 is receivable in the remaining end Of the shell 1 vto have electrical connection therewith', this second metallic shell having bayonet projections 19 that are receivable in thel bayonet passages 3 at the adjacent end of the first shell 1. The shell 18 has a transverse continuation 20 that constitutes a contact portion that is not only electrically connected with the shell 18 but is also electrically connected with the shell 1 because Of the electrical engagement between the two shells. This transverse continuation 20 is engageable by one of the spring contacts 12 at the adjacent end of the Contact carrier 9, whereby one lamp terminal is grounded.

A plate of insulation 21 is located within and is disposed transversely of the second shell 18 adjacent the transverse continuation 20. A contact element 22, preferably of U-form, and which is insulated from the shells, is assembled with said plate of insulation 21, this plate of insulationk being disposed between the legs of said Contact element. Theinner, shorter, leg of this contact element is engageable by the spring Contact 13 whereby the lamp terminal that is companion to the grounded lamp terminal is connected with a given pole of the generator with the aid of mechanism to be set forth. i f

A contact carrier 23 is located within .the second shell intermediate its ends. Two plunger contacts 24, 25 project from the innerend of the carrier 23 that faces the carrier. The contacts 24 and 26 are pressed apart by a coiled spring 30. The contacts 25 and 27 are pressed apart by the spring 31. All of the plunger contacts 24, 25, 26 and 27 are thus constituted spring contacts, the contacts 24 and 25 being engaged by their springs with the outer, longer, leg of the contact element 22, whereby all of the plunger contacts 24 to 27 inclusive are connected with the same contact element 22 and, through the intermediation oi' this contact element 22, with the saine plunger Contact 13 and ultimately with the same lamp terminal S through the intermediation of this contact 13 and the Contact 11.

The plate of insulation 21 and the contact element 22 are desirably initially loose in the shell 18, the springs 30, 31, through the contacts 2st and 25, serving to maintain the plate 21 (which is a. disk) against the transverse continuation 20. It is noted that this transverse continuation 20 is shown in the form of an inner end Wall for the shell 1S, a

hole being formed in this Wall to expose the shorter, inner, leg or the contact 22 for engao'ement with the contact 13.

plug 32 of insulation is received in the outer end of the second shell, this plug having bayonet projections 33 receivable in the bayonet passages 34C provided at the outer end of the second shell. The plug 32 carries two conductor terminals 35, 36 each having a. conductor engaging binding-screw 37 ior securing a magneto terminal conductor 3S f which is diagrammatically indicated, this being respectively engageable by the plun- `ger contacts 26 and 27.

rlhe construction illustrated is a convenient means vfor assembling all of the ypart-s shovvnand While Iprefer the employment .of all of thesepartsin the relation indicated, I do not Wish to be limited thereto.

f IVhile I have herein shown and particuof a contact carrier Within the shell intermediate its ends; two spring contacts projecting from each end of said Contact carrier and electrically connected each with one spring contact at the other end of the carrier; a contact carrying plug receivable in one end of said shell and carrying contacts upon its inner end which are engageable by the spring contacts at the adjacent end of said contact carrier; a second metallic Yshell receivable in the remaining end of the lirst shell to have electrical connection therewith, the second shell having a transverse continuation engageable by one of the spring contacts at the adjacent end of the aforesaid contact carrier; a plate of insulation Within and disposed transversely oi the second shell adjacent said transverse continuation of this shell; a Contact or' U-t'orm iii-- sulated from the shells and assembled with said plate of insulation and between Whose legs said plate ont insulation is disposed, the inner leg ofthe contact of U-form beingk vtact carrier and connected each with one spring contact at the other end of this carrier, the contacts at the inner end of this carrier being both engageable With the reu maining leg of said contact of U-forni; a plug receivable in the outer end of 'tliefsecond shell; and two conductor terminals carried by said plug and engageable by the spring contacts at the outer end of the aforesaid contact carrier that is within the second shell.- y

2. rl`he combination with a metallic shell; of a pair of inwardly pressed contacts Within said shell; a second metallic shell receivable inthe first shell to have electrical connection therewith, the second shell having a transverse continuation engageable vby one of the aforesaid spring contacts; a plate of insulation Within and disposed transversely of the second shell adjacent lsaid transverse continuation of this shell; a contact Vof U-form insulated 'from the shells and assembled with said plate of insulation and between Whose legsvsaid plate of insulation isdisposed, the inner leg of the contact of U-form being engaged bythe remaining one of the aforesaid spring contacts; and spring contacts Within the second shell both engageable with the remaining leg of said Contact of U-form.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 13th day of February, A. D.,

HARRY A. DOUGLAS. 

